We're just four games into the 2012-13 season, so the sample size is small. But that doesn't alter the fact that Michael Carter-Williams currently leads the nation in assists.

The Syracuse University point guard is averaging 9.3 assists per game this year. In his last three contests -- in big Orange wins over Wagner, Princeton and Colgate -- he has recorded 33 assists and seven turnovers.

His teammates marveled after Sunday's win over Colgate about Carter-Williams' mastery of the point guard position at this stage of the season. Trevor Cooney said Carter-Williams "is controlling the entire game."

Carter-Williams was aware on Tuesday that his name sits atop the NCAA Division I assists category.

"It's a nice stat to have right now," he said. "But I think it'll really be nice to have it at the end of the season."

A few other interesting early stats: Carter-Williams is also second nationally in steals per game at 4. He's the Orange men's third leading rebounder (5.5) behind C.J. Fair (6.0) and Rakeem Christmas (5.8). And speedy University of South Florida point guard Anthony Collins is fourth thus far in NCAA assists with 8.2 per game. Collins missed the Bulls last game with a sore calf.